Rory McIlroy seizes Masters lead with Bryson DeChambeau 2 back - ESPN

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy is 18 holes away from golfing immortality.

The 35-year-old from Northern Ireland will take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the 89th Masters at Augusta National Golf Club after producing one of his best rounds in a major championship with a 6-under 66 on Saturday to move to 12 under after 54 holes.

McIlroy, the No. 2-ranked golfer in the world, needs to win an elusive green jacket to join Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only golfers to complete the career Grand Slam in the Masters era.

It will be McIlroy's 11th attempt at finishing the career Grand Slam in the Masters, and this might be his best opportunity to do it.

«I think I still have to remind myself that there's a long way to go, just like I said yesterday, 18 holes,» McIlroy said. «I, just as much as anyone else, know what can happen on the final day here.»

LIV Golf League captain Bryson DeChambeau is perhaps the biggest obstacle in his way. DeChambeau made a 48-foot putt from the fringe of the 18th green to get within two strokes of McIlroy. DeChambeau made birdies on three of the last four holes to post a 3-under 69 and cut McIlroy's four-stroke lead in half.

McIlroy and DeChambeau will tee off in the final pairing at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.

It will be a rematch of their final-round duel in the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina. McIlroy missed two short putts in the final three holes, allowing DeChambeau to make a memorable pitch shot from a bunker and par putt on the 72nd hole to win his second major.

«It will be the grandest stage that we've had in a long time, and I'm excited for it,» DeChambeau said. «We both want to win really, really badly. You know, shoot,